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One of only a handful of women leaders, Jacinda Ardern was dogged by sexist and anti-ageing comments from reporters, online commentators and other politicians during her time as New Zealand’s Prime Minister.
She announced on Thursday that she would step down as head of state after more than five years in office, impressing supporters and political insiders in the nation of 5 million.
“I’m human. Politicians are human. We give everything we can as long as we can and then it’s time,” she explained of her decision during an emotional press conference. “I know what this job needs, and I know I don’t have enough left in the tank to do him justice – it’s as simple as that.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern resigned on January 19 after two terms and ahead of national elections later this year. (Video: Portal)
At 37, Ardern became New Zealand’s youngest leader in more than 150 years when she was elected prime minister in 2017.
Represented as a refreshing addition to a predominantly male world stage, she rode a wave of “Jacindamania” in the island nation and led New Zealand’s centre-left Labor Party as a Liberal.
She will join a small clique of former female leaders including Germany’s Angela Merkel, Britain’s Theresa May and Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Like her, she has struggled with a number of sexist complaints.
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As a lawmaker in 2012, Ardern was told by a fellow politician to “shut up, sweetheart” – a phrase often used against her online after she became prime minister.
Shortly after Ardern, prominent New Zealand economist Gareth Morgan was elected tweeted that she would have to prove she was more than “lipstick on a pig,” prompting accusations from lawmakers and social media pundits of misogynistic language.
During her tenure, she was nicknamed “Aunt Cindy” and referred to as “babe” and “pretty communist” by the media and online commentators. A TV reporter asked about her child’s conception, and last year police were investigating a strip club for using a manipulated, nearly-nude picture of her to advertise his services.
This week, Fox News host Tucker Carlson dubbed her the “lady with the big teeth” when discussing her retirement.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin on November 30 answered a reporter’s question about their respective ages. (Video: Portal)
During a joint press conference held by Ardern and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin in Auckland, a male reporter suggested that the two leaders were meeting because they were of similar age and gender, prompting Ardern to hit back.
“A lot of people will ask: are you just dating because you’re similar in age and there’s a lot in common – when you got into politics and stuff – or can Kiwis actually expect to see more business between us?” two countries down the line?” asked the reporter from New Zealand radio station Newstalk ZB.
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Ardern replied in mild disbelief, “I wonder if anyone has ever asked Barack Obama and John Key if they met because they were the same age,” referring to the former New Zealand prime minister, who was five days after the former US was born President.
“Because two women meet, it’s not just because of their gender,” she added.
When Ardern became prime minister in 2017, reporters focused their questions on whether she felt she was making a choice between children and a career, which she said was discriminatory at the time.
In 2018, she became the second world leader, after Pakistani Benazir Bhutto, to have a baby during her tenure, stating at the time that she was “not the first woman to multitask”. Ardern took six weeks maternity leave and later traveled to the UN General Assembly in New York with her three-month-old daughter Neve.
Ardern announced her retirement in the coastal city of Napier, telling reporters Thursday that she was looking forward to spending more time with her family. She and partner Clarke Gayford had to call off their wedding last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“They’re probably the ones who’ve sacrificed the most out of all of us,” Ardern said, before addressing her daughter and partner. “Well to Neve, Mum is looking forward to seeing you when you go to school this year. And to Clarke, let’s finally get married.”
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who has received global praise for her leadership during Covid and other crises, unexpectedly resigned on January 19. (Video: Neeti Upadhye, Julie Yoon/The Washington Post)
Women remain grossly underrepresented in world politics, with only 28 countries represented by elected female leaders by 2022, according to the UN. “At current rates, gender equality in the highest positions of power will take 130 years,” UN Women said.
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In office, Ardern formed the most diverse government in New Zealand’s history after a landslide election victory in 2020, with more women, people of color, LGBTQ and Indigenous MPs than ever before.
Last year New Zealand became the first advanced industrialized democracy with a female-majority legislature.
Ardern has also championed the #MeToo movement for gender equality. Her empathetic way of governing during several crises, including the coronavirus pandemic and Christchurch’s 2019 terrorist attack on two mosques, propelled her onto the global stage – even as her popularity has lagged behind the main conservative opposition at home of late.
A self-proclaimed feminist, she once said she hopes to be remembered as “a good leader, not a good leader.” She added, “I don’t want to be known just as the woman who gave birth.”
Ardern said she would step down by February 7.
Rachel Pannett, Michael E. Miller, and Helier Cheung contributed to this report.